| abstract |
An apparatus for stenting a vessel comprises a stent having a lattice of interconnecting elements defining a substantially cylindrical configuration having a first open end and a second open end wherein the lattice is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In one embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of interlocking bridges. In a second embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of interlocking struts. The apparatus further includes a catheter having an inner sleeve and an expandable member on the inner sleeve wherein the expandable member is movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. For either embodiment, the stent is secured to the catheter over the expandable member when the expandable member is in the collapsed state and the stent is in the locked configuration. The stent is separated from the catheter when the expandable member is in the expanded state and the stent is in the open configuration. A method for stenting the vessel also includes deploying both stent embodiments at a desired location within a vessel. |